Pixeline and the Jungle Treasure
Score: 87% ESRB: Not Rated Publisher: OSAO Games Developer: Progressive Media Media: Download/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action/ Platformer (2D)
Graphics & Sound: I don't think anyone realized just how big of an impact the iPhone or Android based phones would have on the handheld market. There was always the idea that games would come out for devices, but I think few saw it going beyond Snake clones and other basic time-wasters. Pixeline and the Jungle Treasure is the sort of game you would expect to see either as a downloadable console title or a Flash-based game on the PC. Though it won't grab the attention of players who routinely complete blindfolded speed runs of Sonic or Super Mario Bros., it's a fun, casual platform offering for the mobile phone. If anything else, it helps further the mobile phone as a legit gaming platform. Although Pixeline can feel a bit still and sterile at times, in general it looks great. The look has a cute, cartoon feel befitting of its title character. The color palette is colorful and bold, giving the game an attention-grabbing "wow" factor, at least when viewed from a distance (yes, I'm speaking from experience here). Sound follows suit and fits with the presentation. You won't catch yourself humming any of the background tunes in the shower, but while you're playing, it adds just the right amount of audio "oomph" to keep you going forward.
Gameplay: Pixeline is a spry young girl with a penchant for treasure hunting, leading her to seek out a treasure her grandfather told her about years ago. Her adventure takes her through 26 stages where she'll need to "hop and bop" her way to the end, all the while collecting coins and treasures, and meeting animal spirits that will help her overcome various obstacles standing between her and her grandfather's treasure. Pixeline and the Jungle Treasure is as straightforward as platformers can get. She moves from left to right, jumping over gaps and on top of enemies. Compared to console platformers, Pixeline is a slower-paced game, but when you factor in the control issues, this isn't a bad thing. Pixeline's adventure is incredibly linear, though you are given the option to re-trace your steps and return to previous levels to hunt down coins or other items that may have escaped your grasp your first time through. Although Pixeline follows a familiar template, there are a few elements that help it stand out from other platformers. Pixeline will meet several animal spirits during her journey, awarding her with the ability to transform into those animals. The addition of animal transformations adds a slight "Metroidvania" type feel to levels. While nowhere near as complex, the option to go back and find alternate routes with the new abilities keeps things interesting.
Difficulty: Pixeline and the Jungle Treasure does a great job of easing players into its various mechanics. The first few levels prep you on movement, item collection and basic platforming concepts through a series of short pop-up messages delivered by the ever-chipper Pixeline. Eventually, you're introduced to animal forms, which ramp up the difficulty considerably. Levels are no longer just about jumping, but figuring out which animal's ability works best in which situation. By the time you reach the last legs of Pixeline's adventure, you'll find yourself flipping between animal forms so often you might even forget Pixeline is a little girl. Though controls will present issues, it's unlikely you won't be able to pass through the first couple of levels with a 100% completing rating. Later levels are cleverly designed and offer more complexity. They still won't push your wits to their limits, but some areas provide nice brainteasers. Unfortunately, the "easier" areas outnumber the trickier ones.
Game Mechanics: Although Pixeline and the Jungle Treasure is a solid offering mechanically and gameplay-wise, it wrestles with control issues. I'm a firm believer in developing for the device, not trying to make something work. As such, I'm usually against the idea of "virtual controllers." They're functional, but I've yet to play with one that offered a nice, tactile experience. Unlike other platformers, Pixeline keeps things simple, so there isn't much that needs to be done to help her navigate around levels. As simple as the controls are, they're a bit touchy. Both sets of controls are located at the bottom of the screen, well out of the way of most of the action, though it still feels like you're covering up important parts of the level. This is especially tricky when Pixeline is closer to the bottom of the screen. Jumping presents it's own issues. Without the "click" feedback that comes with pushing a button, jumping can be tricky. Though far from impossible, expect to miss a few jumps. Standing jumps are less of an issue, but running jumps are always a leap of faith. I was able to eventually work out some coping strategies to make sure I'd hit jumps, so don't look at Pixeline as frustration waiting to happen. Instead, know it may take a death or ten before you figure out exactly how to approach each jump. For the price, Pixeline and the Jungle Treasure is a fun platformer. It won't appeal to hardcore 2D platformer junkies, but the simple action and slower pacing is great for younger players or more casual players who might want to sneak in a level or two between meetings.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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